Yarn carrier for axminster looms



June 30, 1953 A. RUNTON YARN CARRIER FOR AXMINSTER LOOMS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 9, 1952 INVENTOR.

m u E A f a m JTTORNEY June 30, 1953 L. A. RUNTON 2,643,681

YARN CARRIER FOR AXMINSTER LOOMS Filed Aug. 9, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 If/Illllllllll),

ATTORNEY Patented June 30, 1 953 2,643,681 YARN CARRIER Fo AXMINSTER LooMs Iieslie A. Runton, Port Chester, N. Y., assignor to Alexander Smith, Incorporated, Yonkers, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application August 9, 1952, Serial No. 303,545

11 Claims.

This invention relates to yarn carriers for Axminster looms and has for an object to provide novel and improved braking means for Axminster loom spools.

Another object is to provide a combination of a relatively strong braking efiect when the spool is on the conveyor chain and a relatively light braking effect during transfer while laying a tuft of pile yarn in the backing.

Another object is to provide a mechanismoi the above type which operates automatically and does not require any change in the standard transfer mechanism.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent as the nature of the invention is more fully disclosed.

It has been found that in Axminster looms the spools have a tendency to turn during their travel on the conveyor chains and in so doing may pull a certain amount of yarn out of the tubes. This results in a short tuft or row of tufts when the spool is next transferred to weaving position. Also a braking effect is required to prevent the spool from overrunning when the required amount. of yarn has been withdrawn during Weaving. This effect, however, must not be so great as to interfere with the drawing out of the yarn as the tufts are laid.

These difliculties are overcome in accordance with the present invention by providing magnetic xbraking members to co-act with the spool drums.

One set of brake members is carried by the tube frame and may be adjusted to give the required light braking effect during weaving. The other set of brake members is carried by the conveyor chain in a position to exert a strong braking effect on the drum when the spools are held in the chains. This set however is so designed as not to interfere with the normal transfer operations.

In one embodiment the braking mechanism consists of a spring mounted brake shoe adapted to bear against the drum and a strong permanent magnet, such as a magnet of the Permalloy type, carried by the brake shoe within the range of magnetic influence of the metal of the drum so as to exert a magnetic pull which holds the brake shoe against the drum so as to provide a friction drag.

In another embodiment the permanent magnet is positioned adjacent the drum so as to exert a drag due to the magnetic effect, the amount of drag being controlled by adjusting the air gap. r

The nature of the invention will be better ,2 understood by referring to tion taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which a specific embodiment thereof has been set forth for purposes of illustration.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation partly in section of a loom spool and tube frame embodying the present invention;

Fig. 2 is an end elevation thereof;

Fig. 3 is a section taken on the line 33' of Fig. 1; l

Fig. 4 is a section taken on the line l i of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 5 is a detail view illustrating a modified form or magnetic brake.

Referring to the drawings more in detail a standard Axminster loom tube frame is shown comprising a carrier bar I carrying a row of' tubes 2 through which the yarn ends are adapted to pass. The tubes 2 areshown as mounted on a support 3 attached by screws 4 to the bar 5. The bar I carries at opposite ends a hanger or bracket 5 having attached thereto a bearing arm fihaving a slot 1 to receive the end stud 8 of a spool 9-. The stud 8 is latched in position by a spring arm [0. The spool 9 comprises a cylindrical barrel member H and end drum members l2 having a radial surface I3 and a cylindrical peripheral flange M which constitutes the brake drum for the spool.

In the embodiment shown a plurality of spools are mounted end-to-end and are provided at their adjacent ends with coupling members 55 v having registering tongues and grooves and having cylindrical surface-forming bearing members which are journaled in bracket l6 attached to the bar I. The brackets it provide intermediate supports for the spool sections but are sufliciently flexible to permit the spools to be readily removed.

The bracket 5 is adapted to be releasably mounted in links ll of conveyor chain it and is normally secured to the links ii by a latching arm l9 which is pivotally secured to the bearing arm 6 and is held by spring 20 in latching position. The tube frame is removed from the link I! by transfer mechanism, not shown, which grips the latching arm l9 and retracts the same to the dotted line position shown in Fig- 1, thereby releasing the hanger from the link ii.

In the embodiment shown in Fig. 1 a magnetic brake is provided which comprises a flexible arm 2| of non-magnetic material carrying a brake shoe 22 and a permanent magnet 23 which is positioned between the arm 2| and the brake shoe the following descrip- 22 in a position to be magnetically attracted to the end drum member 12, The permanent magnet 23 is of the permalloy type having a high flux density and adapted to exert a strong magnetic pull. The magnet 23 accordingly holds the brake shoe 22 against the brake drum [4 with a force which is determined by the strength of the magnet and its spacing from the drum. This is determined and selected to exertthe necessary drag to prevent the tube from overrunning during the transfer operation when the tufts are being laid in the backing. v

In order to introduce a further braking 'efiect particularly in the case of long spools 'whichare comparatively heavy and possess a substantial amount of inertia, permanent magnets 24 are mounted on the brackets 16 in a position to cooperate with the radial portions i3 of the adjacent end drum members 2. The magnets 25, when thus positioned, do not interfere with the removal of the spools from'the frame, nor do they require alteration in the shape of the'end drum members 12. The magnets 24 are provided with pole pieces which are spaced somewhat-from the adjacent surfaces l3 and are adapted to exert a braking efiect due to their magnetic eiiect, the strength of which is determined by the size oi the magnet and by the gap between the poles of the magnet and thesurfaces l3. Such magnets 24 may of course be'omitted'if sufficient braking force is produced by the magnets 23 at the two ends of the spool assembly.

In the modified form shown in Fig. -'-the magnet 25 is mounted on an arm25 of non-magnetic material attached to the bar} as in Fig. land a set screw 27 is provided for adjusting the gap between the magnet 25 and the brake drum M. In this embodiment the magnetic drag produced by the magnet 25 serves'to resist the rotation of the brake drum l2 and this effect may be adjusted as desired by varying the air gap between the magnet and the brake drum. In this way a close adjustment of the braking action is obtained.

In order to resist rotation of the spool while it is attached to the conveyor-chain 8 an'additional magnetic brake is provided which comprises a bracket 33 of non-magnetic material attached to the link 11 of theconveyor chain 88 and having an arm 3i which extends over the periphery of the brake drum M and carries an arcuate shaped magnet 32 having abrakeshoe facing 33 of braking material. The arm 3! is suificiently flexible to permit magnetic attraction between the magnet 32 and the brake drum'M to hold the facing 33. against the brakedru'm with sufiicient force to exert a frictional drag and thereby prevent the spool from turning while it is mounted on the conveyor chain (8. The bracket 30 and arm 31 however are sunlciently. rigid to hold the magnet 32 in place when the spool and holder are withdrawn from the chain l8'by the transfer mechanism. The magnetic force is of course not sufilciently great to interfere with the removal of the spool by the transfer'mechanism. In the above described mechanism two difierent braking forces are provided, one being the comparatively light braking force is produced bymagnets 23 or by the magnets 23 and 24 andiseliective while the spools are in tuft laying position; the larger braking force being p'roducedby the magnets 32 which are carried by the chain i3 and are effective only while'the spools are being advanced on the conveyor chain. This latter braking effect serves to hold the spoolin position between transfer operations andthereby prevents rotatably mounted on said bar, braking means for retarding the rotation of said spool comprising a permanent magnet attached to said carrier bar-and positioned to exert a magnetic influence onsaid end drum.

2. A tube frame for Axminster looms comprising a carrier bar, a yarn spool having an end drum rotatably mounted on said bar, braking means for retarding the rotation of said spool comprising a'permanent magnet attached to said carrier bar and positioned to exert a magnetic influence on said end-drum, and means adjusting the spacing between said permanent magnetand said end drum.

3. A tube frame for Axminster looms comprising a carrier bar, a yarn spool having an end-drum rotatably mounted on said bar, braking means for retarding the rotation of said spool comprising a permanent magnet attached to said carrier bar and positioned to exert'a magnetic drag on said end drum, said permanent magnet being spaced from said end drum to provide-anairgap and adjustable means to vary said air gap-so as to control the magnetic drag produced by said permanent magnet. p

4. A tube frame for'Axminsterlooms comprising a carrier bar, a yarn spool having an enddrum rotatably mounted on said bar, braking means forretarding the rotationof said'spool comprising a brake shoe adapted to engage said drum, a permanent magnet associated with'said brake shoe to exert'amagnetic infiuenceon said-drum to hold magnetically said brake shoe against said drum and means'mounting saidpermanent-magnet and said brake shoe on said carrierbar.

5. A tube frame for Axminster-looms comprising a carrier bar, a yarn spool having an end drum rotatably mounted on said bar, braking means for retarding the rotation of said spool comprising a brake shoe adaptedto engage said drum, a permanent magnet associated with said brake shoe to exert amagnetic influence on said drum to hold magnetically said brake shoe against said drum, and a flexible support'mounting said permanent magnet and said brake shoe on said carrier bar.

6. In an Axminster loom having a conveyor chain and having tube framesdetachably secured to said conveyor chain and carrying spools having end drums, a permanent magnet mounted on said conveyorchain and positioned to exert a magnetic influence on said end drum'to exert a braking efiect thereon.

'7. In an Axminster loom having a conveyor chain and having tube frames 7 detachably secured to said conveyor chain and carrying spools having end drums, a brake shoe adapted to engage said end drum, a flexible bracket carrying said'brake'shoe mounted on saidchain and adapted to permit said shoe to engage saiddrum, and a permanent magnet mounted on said brake't to exert .a magnetic influence .-on said drum to hold said shoe against saiddrum by magnetic attraction.

8. In an Axminster loom having a conveyor chain and having a tube frame detachably secured thereto and carrying spools having end drums, a pair of brake members cooperating with said end drums to retard rotation thereof, one of said brake members being carried by said tube frame and being adapted to prevent overrunning of said spool during Weaving and the other of said brake members being carried by said chain and exerting a drag sufficient to prevent said spool from turning While being advanced with said chain.

9. In an Axminster 100m having a conveyor chain and having a tube frame detachably secured thereto and carrying spools having end drums, a pair of brake members cooperating with said end drums to retard rotation thereof, one of said brake members being carried by said tube frame and being adapted to prevent overrunning of said spool during weaving and the other of said brake members being carried by said chain and exerting a drag sufiicient to prevent said spool from turning While being advanced with said chain, said first brake member exerting a lesser drag than said second brake member.

10. A tube frame for Axminster looms, a plurality of spools arranged end-to-end in said frame, brackets mounted on said tube frame to support the opposite ends of each of said spools, and permanent magnets carried by certain of said brackets and positioned to exert a magnetic drag on said sp001s.

11. A tube frame for Axminster looms, a plurality of spools arranged end-to-end in said frame, and having end drums, brackets mounted on said tube frame to support the opposite ends of each of said spools, and permanent magnets carried by certain of said brackets and positioned between adjacent end drums of a pair of spools and in proximity thereto to exert a magnetic drag thereon.

' LESLIE A. RUNTQ-N.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

